Do the Math on Your Approach

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
—Winston Churchill

You will really enjoy motivating others if you start thinking of your life as a mathematical equation. We first saw the fun and benefit of this when our good friend and company CEO Duane Black solved the equation on two flipcharts in front of a grateful gathering of managers.

Here it is: When you are positive (picturing the math sign: +) you add something to any conversation or meeting you are part of. That’s what being positive does, it adds.
When you are negative (–), you subtract something from the conversation, the meeting, or the relationship you are part of. If you are negative enough times, you subtract so much from the relationship that there is no more relationship left. It’s simple math. It’s the law of the universe up there on the flip chart of life: positive adds, negative subtracts.

As in math, when you add a negative, it diminishes the total. Add a negative person to the team, and the morale and spirit (and, therefore, productivity and profit) of the team is diminished.
When you are a positive leader with positive thoughts about the future and the people you lead, you add something to every person you talk to. You bring something of value to every communication. Even every e-mail and voice mail that’s positive adds something to the life of the person who receives it. Because positive (+) always adds something.

It runs even deeper than that. If you think positive thoughts throughout the day, you are adding to your own deep inner experience of living. You are bringing a plus to your own spirit and energy with each positive thought. Your negative thoughts take away from the experience of being alive. They rob you of your energy.
Say this to yourself: I like this math. I like its simplicity. I can now do this math throughout my day. When I am experiencing negative thoughts about my team or my to-do list, I know it’s time to take a break and regroup and refresh. It’s time to call a time-out, close my eyes, and relax into my purpose and my mission. It’s time to slow down and breathe into it. I take a lot of quick breaks like that during the day, and this practice is changing my life for the better. It is making me stronger and more energetic than ever before.

Your own strength and energy motivates others. Or, as Car-los Castaneda said, “We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”

100 Ways to Motivate Others: How Great Leaders Can Produce Insane Results without Driving People Crazy, Third Editionby  Steve Chandler and Scott Richardson

Right Now

Right Now...

- somebody is very proud of you.
- somebody is thinking of you.
- somebody is caring about you.
- somebody misses you.
- somebody wants to talk to you.
- somebody wants to be with you.
- somebody hopes you aren't in trouble.
- somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
- somebody wants to hold your hand.
- somebody hopes everything turns out all right.
- somebody wants you to be happy.
- somebody wants you to find him/her.
- somebody is celebrating your successes.
- somebody wants to give you a gift.
- somebody thinks that you ARE a gift.
- somebody hopes you're not too cold, or too hot
- somebody wants to hug you.
- somebody loves you.
- somebody wishes you would lavish them with small things.
- somebody admires your strength.
- somebody is thinking of you and smiling.
- somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on.
- somebody wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun.
- somebody thinks the world of you.
- somebody wants to protect you.
- somebody would do anything for you.
- somebody wants to be forgiven.
- somebody is grateful for your forgiveness.
- somebody wants to laugh with you all night long about old times.
- somebody remembers you fondly and wishes that you were there.
- somebody is praising God for you.
- somebody needs to know that your love is unconditional.
- somebody values your advice.
- somebody wants to tell you how much they care.
- somebody wants to stay up all night watching old movies with you.
- somebody wants to share their dreams with you.
- somebody wants to hold you in their arms.
- somebody wants YOU to hold them in your arms.
- somebody treasures your spirit.
- somebody wishes they could suspend time because of you.
- somebody praises God for your friendship and love.
- somebody can't wait to see you.
- somebody wishes that things didn't have to change.
- somebody loves you for who you are.
- somebody loves the way you make them feel.
- somebody wants to be with you.
- somebody is hoping they can grow old with you.
- somebody wants you to know they are there for you.
- somebody's glad that you're his/her friend.
- somebody wants to be your friend.
- somebody stayed up all night thinking about you.
- somebody is alive because of you.
- somebody is very remorseful after losing your friendship.
- somebody is wishing that you noticed him/her.
- somebody wants to get to know you better.
- somebody believes that you are his/her soul mate.
- somebody wants to be near you.
- somebody misses your advice/guidance.
- somebody has faith in you.
- somebody trusts you.
- somebody is sorry that they haven't called
- somebody is changed because of you
- somebody wants to be like you
- somebody needs you to send them this letter
- somebody needs your support.
- somebody needs you to have faith in them.
- somebody will cry when they read this.
- somebody needs you to let them be your friend.

You don't have to send this to all of your friends. But do send it to those who come to mind as you read it. Add to it as you pass it along for the little or big things in life you want your friends to have and to know. Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of life, we neglect our friends, and these little things that friendships entail.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
- Mother Teresa

Be Thankful!

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you
did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for
the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your
blessings.

- Unknown

To Be More

To Be More

By: Wilferd A Peterson

Your greatest power is the power to be.

To be more loving.

To be more courageous.

To be more joyous.

To be more friendly.

To be more sensitive.

To be more aware.

To be more forgiving.

To be more tolerant.

To be more humble.

To be more patient.

To be more helpful...

To be a greater human being.